Thanks for visiting my fundraising page!  As most of you know I am running the 2010 Marine Corp Marathon which takes place on October 31st, 2010.  This is a 26.2 miles race through DC and surroundin areas.  Last year I raised over $2700 for Autism research.  Again this year I will be running to raise money for Autism Research.  Most of you know that I have been running for the last 3 years to get healthy and physically fit and it has literally transformed my life.  The challenges that I have endured are nothing to the challenges that kids and their families with Autism must endure. 

 

This year I am asking for your support again!

 

Please read more about autism below.

 

Autism or, more commonly today, autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disability characterized by deficits in: 1) verbal and nonverbal communication, 2) social interaction, and 3) the presence of repetitive behaviors or interests. Generally diagnosed before the age of 3 the severity of the impairment can range from relatively mild resulting in a diagnosis within the spectrum of Asperger Syndrome to more severe leading to a diagnosis of more classic autism. If a child has symptoms of either of these disorders, but does not meet the specific criteria of either, the diagnosis is called Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).

Autism spectrum disorders are found in all cultures and across all socio-economic groups with the ratio boys to girls with ASD being 4 to 1. In the past 30 years the prevalence rate of ASD has skyrocketed. Recent prevalence estimates indicate that autism spectrum disorders occur in 1 out of every 150 children born (CDC 2007) highlighting the facts that autism spectrum disorders are not rare and the importance of effective intervention is critical on a personal, familial and societal level. Why the increase? No one knows for sure. Some epidemiologists point to a broader definition of autism and an increasing awareness among medical professionals as key contributing factors. Others consider the potential impact of environmental factors (e.g., toxins) as a contributing cause. As more and more research is funded and completed this question may soon be answered.